Tag: Things to do Terryglass

In the early years of the fledgling Irish State, shortly after Independence, the ambitious project of creating Ireland’s first Hydro Electric Power Station was born. This facility, when completed in the mid 1920’s provided most of the energy needs of the emerging Republic. Located on the River Shannon, harnessing the power contained in the volume of water in Lough Derg, this project was an ambitious and visionary undertaking designed to help bring Ireland into the modern world at that time.

Today the Power Station, operated by Ireland’s Electricity Supply Board, provides a much lower percentage of the Country’s needs, however it still stands as a powerful testament to our founding fathers.

The centre now provides for group and individual tours and bookings can be made during the summer season online via this link

Ardnacrusha Hydro Electric Station is approximately 50 mins drive from your Fuchsia Lane Farm self catering cottage in Terryglass and you can also include a visit to Limerick city or Killaloe/Ballina as part of your day.

Doolin Ferries and Aran Island Day Trips

Many of our guests take the opportunity to visit the Burren while they are staying here at Fuchsia Lane Farm. Such a trip usually includes a trip to the Cliffs of Moher. One of the most beautiful sights from the famous cliffs is, of course, the Aran Islands. For the 2018 season we are partnering with Doolin Ferries who operate a daily service to the Islands, as well as a tour of the Cliffs from the ocean side, and guests staying with us here at Fuchsia Lane Farm can avail of a discount that offers up to 40% off the normal price when they book online in advance. When you check in with us we will give you a special code which you can use on the Doolin Ferry website

News from Terryglass!

Spring is doing its best to edge into our lives at the moment, despite some unexpected snow which has given many of us an unexpected day to catch up on all those jobs that we say we will do ‘someday’! The snowdrops are giving their last bit of bloom as they begin to fade away after announcing to the world that the winter is almost over. Their fragile white petals are always a joy to see this time of year. Their friends and ‘second wave’ of Spring Heralds are out and they are giving a lovely splash of yellow along the hedgerows and gardens.

In Terryglass the local Improvements Association are working away on creating a new playground as well as improving berthing facilities for the fishing boats. This work is really welcome as this area of the harbour had become a little inaccessible due to the build up of silt and it will be great to be able to have our little fishing boat back in the water there soon.

The Derg Inn, under new management, has the contractors in as they work on a new kitchen and some internal improvements and we look forward to seeing what is in store there soon.

Paddy’s Bar and Restaurant continues to serve up good food and is still a great spot for a drink with the locals. No need for Social Media friends when you can meet real people in a genuine Irish pub!

Portumna is seeing some new developments with a new coffee shop opening in the courtyard of Portumna Castle. This should be a lovely addition to the list of ‘great places to have coffee around Lough Derg’ and will be of value to both locals and visitors to the area.

It is still a relatively quiet time in terms of visitors to our cottages, however we have had some wonderful guests from overseas who were looking for a quiet vacation rental in Ireland. The opportunity to meet interesting people, from varying places and backgrounds, is one of the things we love about our business.

So if you are planning to take a trip or make a visit to our area, just let us know and we will do our best if there is anything we can do to assist!

Canoes and Kayaks on Lough Derg!

We are so fortunate to be living close to Lough Derg, the largest lake on the River Shannon. This majestic lake has played a central part in the regions history and development. In ancient times it provided access to settlers and invaders alike, became a source of valuable fish for those living around the lake, then in early Christian times it enabled the early monks to settle and create places of learning on Holy Island and also Terryglass. Lovers of Ireland’s famous drink, Guinness, might be interested to hear that the lake also was a method of transportation for Malting Barley, grown by local farmers, which is an essential element in the production of the famous drink. Local farmers brought their harvest to the local piers along the lake and it was then transported in the famous Guinness barges up the lake and along the Grand Canal to Dublin. One of the local harbours in the area is Kilgarvan Quay and one can still see the old warehouse and winches used to load the sacks of grain onto the barges.

However the lake now has become a wonderful leisure playground for locals and visitors alike and a new enterprise has emerged at Kilgarvan Quay! A young energetic and sporting couple, Becky and Rueben, have established Lough Derg Watersports and provide canoeing and kayaking for individuals, groups and parties of all sizes and abilities along the Lough Derg Blueway. Guests can learn the basics, enjoy guided trails on the water and have lots of fun with their wonderful tutors! Full details can be found at loughdergwatersports.com and on Facebook and Twitter.

Kayaking on Lough Derg Blueway

Lough Derg is a wonderful, unspoilt and totally underused resource on our doorstep and we are always thrilled to see businesses offering guests an opportunity to get out on the water. We are really thrilled to see a local business Lough Derg Watersports offering environmentally sound and sustainable activities locally.

, and we fully support this.

As part of promoting the Blueway, Becky and her partner are hosting a Family Fun Day at Kilgarvan quay, just 15 minutes from our cottages. We expect this to be a great day of fun, food and a chance to ‘get your feet wet’. Contact Becky on 086 4114822

Terryglass Arts Festival 2016

Our local arts festival is organised by a small voluntary committee who work enthusiastically throughout the year to make each festival a fun event that appeals to all ages and because of this commitment and vision, it has become an established event on the Irish arts festivals’ calendar.

As part of the 2016 festival the team is delighted to be bringing Noni Stapelton’s play “Charolais”, a dark comedy about love, longing and one woman’s intense rivalry with a Charolais heifer to Terryglass Village Hall and to also welcome Rebecca Storm as she returns to the church this year for our Friday night Gala Concert. With fireworks at the quay, over 70 participative workshops, street entertainment with magician and ventriloquist Jack Wise, stunning visual arts and the Family Fun Day on the Sunday, the festival is a wonderful celebration of the arts, creativity, talent, inspiration and enjoyment and has something to offer all ages and interests.

Please note that there is on-line booking for most events and tickets do sell out fast, so don’t forget to book early to avoid disappointment.

Try the Blueway 10K on Lough Derg

Waterways Ireland, Canoeing Ireland and the Canoe Association of Northern Ireland have joined forces with outdoor centres and canoeing clubs across the island to create the Blueway 10k ‘learn to paddle’ programme for people seeking a new adventure in the outdoors.

Blueways are multi-activity trails running on and alongside water, with cycling and walking complementing the paddling trails. By the end of 2016 there will be over 200km of trails on the Shannon and Shannon-Erne waterways managed by Waterways Ireland.

A 12 week canoe training programme is available in 30 centres nationwide starting on 28th May culminating in a 10k paddle in 7 key locations across the inland waterways. This no nonsense workout that will allow people to turn up in regular workout clothes, put on a buoyancy aid, grab a boat and paddle, and go for short intensive work out.

Although the programme is written for kayaks, the Blueway 10K can be completed in any paddlesports craft including sit on tops, open canoes and stand up paddle boards.

The training partners delivering the programme are clubs, outdoor recreational centres all run by experienced paddlers, check them out online or follow the links on the website to get more information.

Canoeing is an aerobic sport which can be practised either in a club outdoor recreation centres to develop a range of skills which can be used for fitness or competition with sprints, white water, marathon & canoe polo activity or for recreation, short and long-distance self-guided or guided touring and adventure. With a range of options this wide there are loads of ways to find the paddling experience that matches a person’s fitness and recreational needs.

Easter Tennis Camp

Let your children improve their Tennis Skills this Easter!

Here at Fuchsia Lane Farm we are just 25 mins drive from Nenagh Lawn Tennis Club. This club has a long tradition of social and competitive tennis and its origins can be traced to the early 1900s where play on grass courts was the norm. The club has a strong family and social tradition catering for all ages and standards, a thriving Junior Program right through to the Adult grading system.

This Easter from Mon 21st March through to Friday 25th children can enjoy activities, games, fun and make new friends while they improve their tennis skills. It also affords parents an opportunity to enjoy a nice lunch, shopping or sightseeing while the little ones are busy!

For more information visit http://www.nenaghltc.ie/coaching/juniors/junior-coaching/

Family Breaks

Here at Fuchsia Lane Farm Holiday Cottages we believe that family time is vital. Our Lodge Cottage is perfect for larger family groupings and the Studio Room, with its own tv, bunk beds and futon, make it an ideal space for younger family members to chill and have their ‘own space’. However, many of us have very fond childhood memories where we lazed in a tent and watch the ever changing colours and patterns reflect off the canvas as we lazed and enjoyed the cosy heat that is typical of a tent on a warm day. With this in mind we welcome guests who want to pitch their own tent at the Lodge Cottage to afford themselves some extra space. We can also supply one of ours for you, if you wish.

In this way guests can have the freedom of a camping experience with the comfort of the cottage just a few paces away!

Portumna Forest Marathons

Portumna is a small town in the heart of rural Galway, just 10 mins drive from Fuchsia Lane Farm. The name Portumna comes from the Irish word Port Omna, meaning the landing place of the oak tree. So not surprisingly, perched on the edge of the quaint little town is a magnificent 450 hectacres of coniferous woodland of Scots Pine and Norway spruce. Portumna Forest Park is also home to a whole host of animals including Fallow deer and the red Squirrel. Every June, the agility of the wild animals in their natural habitat is mimicked by the ‘best of the best’ of distance runners from all over Ireland. In recent years participants have come from all over the world in their quest to find the ultimate Ultra marathon.